Archive By Section - Area Briefs

Daryl Ferguson of Great Bend went home with the first-place prize of $750 at Sunday's Sunflower Diversified Services poker tournament. Arlene Manning of Ellinwood took second for $300, and Dwight Nett of Kingman won $150 for third place.

The Barton County Spelling Bee, originally scheduled for the morning of Feb. 12 at the Great Bend High School Auditorium, has been rescheduled to Feb. 5. Sponsors said the date was changed because there was a conflict with the use of the auditorium.

Senior Citizens are invited to enjoy an afternoon of socializing and eating ice cream at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Great Bend Senior Center, 2005 Kansas Ave. The Senior Center will provide ice cream and cookies.

Tom Giessel of rural Larned, longtime vice president of the Kansas Farmers Union, will be speak and lead a discussion at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Gold Room at the Highland Hotel, 3017 10th St. Giessel has been asked to speak at the Barton County Progressives meeting about the plight of small family farms, BCP spokesman Christina Stein said.

The Great Bend Recreation Commission is forming its New Year sessions of exercise classes for people 18 years of age and older, program coordinator Garet Fitzpatrick said. Classes start Monday, and will continue through Feb. 4. All classes will be held at the Great Bend Activity Center, 2715 18th St.

Registration for the next weekly Story Time sessions at the Great Bend Public Library starts Monday, Children's Librarian Eric Coulbourne said. Parents are invited to bring children to the library, 1409 Williams St., for story time from 10:15 to 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays, beginning Jan. 18. They will hear stories, do a craft, sing songs and have fun at this free program.